The following standards apply to signs on lots in nonresidential zoning districts:
(a) Building and Freestanding Signs.
(1) Maximum Sign Area for All Building and Freestanding Signs.
A. Table 1123-1 establishes the total maximum sign area allowed for the aggregate sign area of all building and freestanding signs on a lot as established in this section.
B. The maximum sign area in Table 1123-1 does not include the sign areas of the following sign types that might also be located on the lot including:
i. Temporary signs;
ii. Window signs;
iii. Drive-through facility signs; and
iv. Driveway signs.
C. Building signs and freestanding signs shall be subject to the sign type standards of this section.
D. Where a building has a primary and secondary facade as determined in Section 1123.08(a)(2), the signage allowed on the primary facade may not be placed on the secondary facade and vice versa.
TABLE 1123-1: MAXIMUM BUILDING AND FREESTANDING SIGN AREA | |
District | Maximum Sign Area Allowance |
PF | 50 square feet of freestanding sign and 0.50 square feet of building signage for each lineal foot of primary and secondary facade width |
LB | Primary Facade Signage: 1.20 square feet of signage for each lineal foot of primary facade width + 30 square feet. Secondary Facade Signage: 0.45 square feet of signage for each lineal foot of secondary facade width. |
OB, GB, CBD, and SM-D | Primary Facade Signage: 1.50 square feet of signage for each lineal foot of primary facade width + 40 square feet. Secondary Facade Signage: 0.60 square feet of signage for each lineal foot of secondary facade width. |
CS | Primary Facade Signage: 1.25 square feet of signage for each lineal foot of primary facade width. Secondary Facade Signage: 0.50 square feet of signage for each lineal foot of secondary facade width. |
GI and ITC | Primary Facade Signage: 1.50 square feet of signage for each lineal foot of primary facade width. Secondary Facade Signage: 0.60 square feet of signage for each lineal foot of secondary facade width. |
E. Standards for Building and Freestanding Signs in the NLO District:
i. For signs in the NLO District, where the sign requirements for the NLO District are more restrictive than the underlying base zoning district standards above, the NLO District standards shall apply.
ii. Signs shall utilize a style, materials, and colors that complement the building facade.
iii. Building signs consisting of wall signs, canopy signs, and projecting signs shall be permitted at a ratio of one and one-half (1½) square feet per lineal foot of the primary facade length, not to exceed the following:
a) 150 square feet on buildings that do not have individual, separate building units, including office buildings where all access to the individual office spaces is located internally;
b) Seventy-five (75) square feet per building unit on multi-tenant buildings. See also Figure 1123-G.
iv. In addition to the building signs allowed above, awning signs shall be permitted provided that the sign copy is limited to a maximum of twenty-five percent (25) of the total exterior surface of the awning. The awning shall be attached to the building so that no part of the awning or awning support structure is located within eight (8) feet or more than twelve (12) feet from the surface of the established grade under the sign. Such awning signs shall not project more than five (5) feet from the wall on which it is attached.
v. For buildings in the NLO District that are taller than forty-five (45) feet in height, one signature wall sign shall be permitted in addition to all other signs allowed above, in accordance with the following:
a) The signature wall signs shall be located on a building wall that is visible from Interstate 75.
b) The signature wall sign shall not exceed one square foot per lineal foot of lot frontage along Chester Road, with a total sign area not to exceed 220 square feet.
c) The signature wall signs shall be mounted within fifteen (15) feet of the roofline of the building on which it is attached and shall not extend above the said roofline.
vi. Freestanding signs are permitted in the NLO District in accordance with the following:
a) The freestanding sign shall be a monument sign that will consist of a decorative mounting structure and one or more message panels. The mounting structures will complement the design of existing or proposed buildings and development themes in the NLO District. The freestanding signs shall be designed to be modular, updateable and removable as the district uses evolve.
b) The maximum sign area of the freestanding monument sign shall be equal to seventy-five hundredths (0.75) square feet for every one lineal foot of lot frontage along Chester Road, up to a maximum of 150 square feet.
c) The freestanding monument signs shall have a maximum height of ten (10) feet and shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from the front lot line. Such signs are only permitted in the front yard, along Chester Road.
d) There shall be a maximum of two (2) freestanding monument signs on any lot, regardless of the number of street frontages. Such freestanding monument signs shall be separated by 150 feet.
e) The freestanding monument signs shall be subject to all other general standards applicable to freestanding signs in Section 1123.08(a)(4).
(2) Facade Measurements.
A. When calculating the permitted sign area based on the width of any facade, such calculation shall be based on viewing the facade from a 90-degree angle (i.e., straight on) from the adjacent street, regardless of facade insets, offsets or angles. See Figure 1123-F.
Figure 1123-F: Illustration of facade width measurement on varied facade shapes.
B. For multi-tenant buildings, the portion of a building that is owned or leased by a single occupant or tenant shall be considered a building unit. See Figure 1123-G.
Figure 1123-G: The above image shows independent buildings (1 and 4) as well as a
multi-tenant building in between The multi-tenant building has two building units as identified
as 2 and 4 in the image.
C. The primary facade shall include any facade that has frontage along a street and any facade that serves as the main access point to a building or building unit. All other facades shall be considered to be secondary facades for the purposes of this chapter provided such facades do not face a residential zoning district. See Figure 1123-H.
Figure 1123-H: Examples of the location of primary and secondary facades.
D. When a site has primary and secondary facades as defined herein, the Director of Community Development shall determine which facades shall be the primary building facades and which facades shall be the secondary building facades, as may be applicable.
(3) Building Signs.
A. There is no maximum number of permitted building signs.
B. Building signs shall include the total amount of all wall, awning, canopy, and projecting signs attached to the building. Standards for each individual building sign type are established in this section.
C. Building signs may not be attached to mechanical equipment, roof screening, or detached accessory structures.
D. Building signs shall not include electronic message centers unless approved as a conditional use and in compliance with the standards of Section 1123.08(a)(4)J. Messages can only change once every twenty-four (24) hours for electronic message centers on building signs.
E. Wall Sign Standards. Any wall sign shall comply with the following standards:
i. Wall signs shall be mounted on or flush with a wall and shall not project more than eighteen (18) inches from the wall or face of the building to which it is attached.
ii. A wall sign may be mounted on the facade wall or mounted on a raceway or wireway.
iii. No wall sign shall cover or obscure any wall opening.
iv. Wall signs shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from the end of the building or party wall.
v. Wall signs shall not project above the parapet, coping, or eaves of any building.
vi. Wall signs shall not exceed 150 square feet in the PF, LB, OB, GB, CBD, or SM-D Districts.
vii. Wall signs shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total gross area of signage allowed in Table 1123-1 or 200 square feet, whichever is smaller, in the CS, LI, GI, or ITC Districts.
viii. Wall signs shall not be painted directly onto a building in the NLO District.
F. Awning or Canopy Sign Standards. Any canopy sign shall comply with the following standards:
i. Signage shall not cover more than sixteen (16) square feet of any individual awning or canopy.
ii. Signage may be mounted above any canopy that extends over a customer entrance provided that the maximum sign height over the canopy shall be eighteen (18) inches as measured from the top of the canopy to the top of the sign. Signage may also be mounted below the canopy provided the maximum height of the sign copy shall not exceed twelve (12) inches and the clearance requirements of Section 1123.07(a) are maintained to the bottom of the sign copy.
iii. Only the area of the sign may be illuminated internally on an awning or canopy. The remainder of any awning canopy shall not be illuminated or may be illuminated by an external source such as gooseneck lighting.
G. Projecting Sign Standards. Any projecting sign shall comply with the following standards:
i. Only one projecting sign shall be permitted for each tenant.
ii. A projecting sign shall be perpendicular to the wall of the building to which it is attached and shall not extend more than four (4) feet from the facade wall to which it is attached.
iii. Projecting signs shall be set back a minimum of three (3) feet from the end of the building or party wall.
iv. In the CBD and SM-D Districts, projecting signs shall not project more than seven (7) feet from the lot line and in no case shall it be closer than three (3) feet to the inside of the curb line.
v. In the CBD District, the minimum clearance from the grade to the bottom of the sign shall be ten (10) feet and the maximum height of the sign shall be fourteen (14) feet.
vi. Decorative supporting structures for projecting signs are encouraged and shall not count toward the maximum square footage of sign area allowed, however, in no case shall the supporting structure exceed six (6) square feet in area.
vii. The maximum sign area for a projecting sign shall be twenty-four (24) square feet.
viii. Projecting signs shall not be internally illuminated.
ix. Projecting signs may encroach into the right-of-way provided they comply with the clearance standards of Section 1123.07(a) and all portions of the sign are set back a minimum of two (2) feet from the back of the curb.
(4) Freestanding Signs.
A. Freestanding signs include pole, ground, and monument signs.
B. Only one freestanding sign is permitted per street frontage unless the street frontage is longer than 150 feet, in which case up to two (2) freestanding signs are permitted on the frontage where such signs are separated by 150 feet.
C. The maximum height of a ground or monument sign shall be fifteen (15) feet.
D. The maximum height of a pole sign shall be seventy (70) feet if the sign is located within 400 feet of the edge of pavement for Interstate 75 or Interstate 275. The maximum height of all other pole signs shall be thirty (30) feet.
E. Table 1123-2 establishes the minimum setback and maximum height and sign area for freestanding signs in zoning districts.
TABLE 1123-2: FREESTANDING SIGN STANDARDS FOR NONRESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS | |||
Zoning Districts | Minimum Setbacks from Street R-O-W and Adjacent Lots in Nonresidential Zoning Districts | Minimum Setbacks from Lots in Residential Zoning Districts | Maximum Sign Area |
CBD and SM-D | 15 Feet | 50 Feet | 50 Square Feet |
LB, OB, GB, and PF | 15 Feet | 50 Feet | 50 Square Feet [1] |
CS and LI | 25 Feet | 50 Feet | 100 Square Feet [1] |
GI and ITC | 25 Feet | 100 Feet | 100 Square Feet [1] |
NOTE: [1] A pole sign located within 400 feet of the edge of pavement for Interstate 75 or Interstate 275 may have a maximum sign area of 200 square feet. | |||
F. All freestanding signs shall be located in a landscaped area equal to or larger than the total sign area of the applicable sign. Such landscaped area may be an area that fulfills any landscaping requirements of this code. The landscaped area shall include all points where sign structural supports attach to the ground.
G. Freestanding signs shall not be located in a side or rear yard unless the side or rear yard is adjacent to lots in the GB, CS, LI, GI, or ITC Districts.
H. Exposed sign foundations shall be constructed with a finished material such as brick, stone, or wood.
J. Freestanding signs may contain changeable copy (manual changes or electronic message centers). Electronic message centers shall be subject to the following:
i. The sign area of the electronic message center shall not exceed ninety percent (90%) of the total sign area.
ii. The signs shall only be allowed if approved as a conditional use.
iii. All electronic message centers shall be set back a minimum of 200 feet from a residential dwelling unit.
iv. Any message changes shall be a static, instant message change.
v. Messages can only change once every eight seconds or longer.
vi. The transition time between messages shall be less than one second.
vii. All electronic message centers shall contain a default mechanism that will cause the sign to revert immediately to a black screen if the sign malfunctions.
viii. The electronic message center shall come equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient light conditions.
ix. Illumination shall not exceed 0.3 footcandles over ambient lighting conditions when measured at fifty (50) feet in any direction from an electronic message center sign.
x. Audio emissions from electronic message center signs shall be prohibited.
(b) Window Signs.
(1) Window signs shall not require a certificate of zoning approval but must comply with the requirements of this section.
(2) Window signs shall not occupy more than fifty percent (50%) of the window area in all nonresidential zoning districts.
(3) Window signs that are attached to the exterior of a window or door are prohibited in the NLO District.
(4) Window signs may be temporarily or permanently attached to the window surface.
(5) The sign area of window signs shall not be counted as part of any other sign allowance in this chapter.
(6) Window signs are not permitted in any window of a space used for residential uses or purposes unless allowed as a temporary sign in accordance with Section 1123.09.
(7) Window signs shall not be illuminated except when illuminated by an external lighting source.
(8) Decorative edging or other window treatments that are not an integral part of the sign copy shall not be considered a part of the sign for the purposes of this chapter. See Figure 1123-E.
(9) The sign area is based on the total window area, regardless of the presence of an awning. Window areas separated by piers, architectural elements, or similar features that are not glass or window framing or support shall be considered separate and distinct window areas. See Figure 1123-I.
Figure 1123-I: The window area is illustrated within the dashed line area for the
two storefronts in the above image.
(c) Drive-Through Facility Signs.
(1) Drive-through facility signs are only permitted as an accessory to a permitted drive-through facility.
(2) One drive-through facility sign shall be allowed for each stacking lane in a drive-through facility, provided the total aggregate sign area of all freestanding signs associated with each drive-through facility does not exceed seventy-two (72) square feet. In no case shall a single drive-through facility sign exceed thirty-six (36) square feet in sign area.
(3) Such signs shall be oriented so as to only be visible to occupants of vehicles in the stacking lanes of the drive-through facility.
(4) No drive-through facility sign under this section shall exceed six (6) feet in height measured from the grade of the adjacent driving surface to the top of the sign.
(5) Drive-through facility signs may be internally or externally illuminated. Up to one hundred percent (100%) of each sign may be an electronic message center if they comply with the following standards:
A. Any message change shall be a static, instant message change.
B. Only Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology or similar quality signs shall be permitted for electronic message centers.
C. The electronic message center shall come equipped with an automatic dimming photocell, which automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on ambient light conditions.
D. The electronic message center shall be turned off during the hours when the related business is closed.
(6) There shall be no maximum drive-through facility sign area in instances where the signs are fully screened from view of any public street or adjacent residential use.
(7) The sign area of drive-through facility signs shall not be counted as part of any other sign allowance in this chapter.
(8) Drive-through facility signs attached to a wall of building shall be calculated as part of the building signage allowance in Section 1123.08(a).
(d) Driveway Signs.
(1) A maximum of two (2) signs shall be permitted for any one driveway.
(2) Driveway signs shall be set back at least five (5) feet from all lot lines but in no case shall the sign be set back more than twenty-five (25) feet from the edge of the driveway where it intersects with the public street.
(3) Each driveway sign shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area and three (3) feet in height.
(4) Driveway signs may be internally or externally illuminated.
(5) The sign area of driveway signs shall not be counted as part of any other sign allowance in this chapter.
(Ord. 2022-22. Passed 5-10-22.)